Paw cutter system and method

ABSTRACT

A paw cutting system for removing a poultry paw from a shackle conveyed along a shackle conveyor line and then cutting the leg of the paw to remove the knuckle is provided. The paw cutter has a guide bar substantially aligned with the shackle conveyor line that urges the paw to a central cavity of the shackle. The paw is discharged from the central cavity into a lateral notch formed in two opposed discs positioned adjacent to an end of the guide bar. The two opposed discs are rotatable and move the paw from the guide bar to a blade. As the paw is moved to the blade, the two discs stretch the paw so that the blade can cleanly cut the paw. The cut paw product can be placed onto a belt or other device in an ordered manner.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 61/854,406, filed Apr. 23, 2013, which is herebyincorporated in its entirety by this reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a paw cutter for removing theknuckle from a poultry paw. More specifically, the invention pertains tosystems and methods for consistently cutting poultry paws in an orderedmanner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A “paw” refers to the foot of poultry, such as chicken, turkey, quail,duck and the like, once the foot is removed from the bird. Inconventional poultry processing plants, the bird is hung on an overheadconveyor and killed. As the bird continues to move along the overheadconveyor (referred to as a picking line), the foot or paw can be cut orotherwise separated from the rest of the carcass.

To have a paw that can be sold requires that the knuckle (or knee) ofthe paw be removed. Further, the paw needs to be correlated to thecarcass from which it was cut. That is, the paw needs to be indexed sothat the paw is traceable to the bird from which it was cut. This isrequired so that, if a carcass is condemned, the corresponding paws canbe identified and also condemned.

Conventional paw cutters can cut the paw while the paw is in a shackleof a picking line. Cutting while in the shackle though can cause qualityissues and/or improper cuts. Other conventional paw cutters can removethe foot from the shackle for cutting. However, moving the foot from theshackle can lose the indexing of the paw with the carcass. Further,there is also inconsistent cutting with conventional paw cutters.

Accordingly, it remains desirable in the pertinent art to provide a pawcutter that cuts consistently and provides indexing so that the paw canbe traced to a carcass.

SUMMARY

Presented herein is a paw cutter for removing a poultry paw from ashackle conveyed along a longitudinal axis on a shackle conveyor line,and then cutting the leg of the paw to remove the knuckle. The pawcutter comprises at least one of guide bar, a holding wheel and a blade.In one aspect, the guide bar can be configured to remove the paw from ashackle conveyed along the shackle conveyor line and position a portionof the paw in a notch defined in the holding wheel. The holding wheelcan rotate and move the paw into contact with the blade, which cuts theknuckle off of the paw. The cut paw can then be positioned on a conveyoror other device in the order in which the paw was cut.

In one aspect, the guide bar can be a substantially linear elongate barpositioned adjacent to and substantially aligned with a portion of theshackle conveyor line. In another aspect, the guide bar can besubstantially linear and parallel to a longitudinal axis of the shackleconveyor line. At least a portion of the guide bar can be upwardlyinclined relative to the shackle conveyor line such that a first end ofthe guide bar is spaced from the shackle conveyor line a first distanceand a second end of the guide bar is spaced from the shackle conveyorline a second distance that is less than the first distance. As ashackle is conveyed by the shackle conveyor line toward the second endof the guide bar, the poultry paw is urged by the guide bar from aproximal end of the shackle to a central cavity of the shackle so thatthe paw can be removed from the shackle.

Upon being conveyed to the end of the guide bar, a portion of the pawcan be positioned in the holding wheel. In one aspect, the holding wheelcan be positioned adjacent to the second end of the guide bar. Aplurality of notches can be defined in an outer edge of the holdingwheel, wherein each notch of the plurality of notches can be configuredto contain a portion of a paw therein. In one aspect, at least one faceof the holding wheel can be substantially parallel to a plane containingthe longitudinal axis of the shackle conveyor line. In another aspect,the holding wheel can be a rotatable wheel that can rotate around arotation axis that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinalaxis of the shackle conveyor line. Thus, a paw positioned in a notch canrotate from the guide bar to the blade in a direction substantiallyparallel to the longitudinal axis of the shackle conveyor line.

In one aspect, the holding wheel can comprise two opposed discs that arespaced from each other a predetermined wheel distance to form a discgap. In another aspect, the two opposed discs can be substantiallyparallel to each other. Optionally, according to another aspect, the twoopposed discs can be positioned at an acute angle to each other. In thisaspect, the predetermined wheel distance can vary from a first position,in which a first portion of each of the two opposed discs contacts oralmost contacts the opposed disc and the predetermined wheel distance iszero, to a second position, in which a second portion of each of the twoopposed discs is spaced from each other and the predetermined wheeldistance is greater than zero.

The blade can be positioned adjacent to the holding wheel and configuredto cut the knuckle from the paw positioned in a notch of the pluralityof notches of the holding wheel.

Related methods of operation are also provided. Other apparatuses,methods, systems, features, and advantages of the paw cutter will be orbecome apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of thefollowing figures and detailed description. It is intended that all suchadditional apparatuses, methods, systems, features, and advantages beincluded within this description, be within the scope of the paw cutter,and be protected by the accompanying claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the paw cutter system of the presentapplication, showing a shackle, a guide bar, a holding wheel and ablade, according to one aspect;

FIG. 2 is a elevational view of the shackle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3. is a perspective view of the paw cutter system of the presentapplication, showing a guide bar, a holding wheel and a blade, accordingto one aspect;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a holding wheel comprising two opposeddiscs;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the holding wheel of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the system of FIG. 1 while cutting paws,according to one aspect; and

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the system of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention can be understood more readily by reference to thefollowing detailed description, examples, and claims, and their previousand following description. Before the present system, devices, and/ormethods are disclosed and described, it is to be understood that thisinvention is not limited to the specific systems, devices, and/ormethods disclosed unless otherwise specified, as such can, of course,vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein isfor the purpose of describing particular aspects only and is notintended to be limiting.

The following description of the invention is provided as an enablingteaching of the invention in its best, currently known aspect. Thoseskilled in the relevant art will recognize that many changes can be madeto the aspects described, while still obtaining the beneficial resultsof the present invention. It will also be apparent that some of thedesired benefits of the present invention can be obtained by selectingsome of the features of the present invention without utilizing otherfeatures. Accordingly, those who work in the art will recognize thatmany modifications and adaptations to the present invention are possibleand can even be desirable in certain circumstances and are a part of thepresent invention. Thus, the following description is provided asillustrative of the principles of the present invention and not inlimitation thereof.

As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include pluralreferents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, forexample, reference to a “shackle” includes aspects having two or moreshackles unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Ranges can be expressed herein as from “about” one particular value,and/or to “about” another particular value. When such a range isexpressed, another aspect includes from the one particular value and/orto the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed asapproximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understoodthat the particular value forms another aspect. It will be furtherunderstood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant bothin relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the otherendpoint.

As used herein, the terms “optional” or “optionally” mean that thesubsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, andthat the description includes instances where said event or circumstanceoccurs and instances where it does not.

The application relates to paw cutting systems and methods for removingthe knuckle from the foot of poultry such as a chicken, quail, turkey,duck and the like, while keeping the paw in order so that a paw can betraced back to a bird. In one aspect, and as illustrated in FIG. 1, thepaw cutting system 10 comprises at least one of: a guide bar 14, aholding wheel 16 and a blade 18. As will be described more fully below,a shackle 12 holds the paw 11 of a bird (as illustrated in FIG. 6). Theguide bar can urge the paw from the shackle and/or position the paw forremoval from the shackle. Upon removal from the shackle, the paw 11 canbe placed into the holding wheel. The holding wheel can rotate until thepaw is moved into contact with the blade, which cuts the knuckle off ofthe paw.

The at least one shackle 12 can be configured to hold at least a portionof the paw such that the knuckle side of the paw is on a first side ofthe shackle and the claw side of the paw is on an opposed, second sideof the shackle 12. In one aspect, the at least one shackle can comprisea plurality of shackles. Each shackle 12 can be coupled to a shackleconveyor line 20, according to another aspect. The shackle conveyor linecan be configured to move the shackle through a processing plant. Forexample, the shackle conveyor line 20 can be configured to move theshackle adjacent to or near the guide bar 14. Optionally, the shackleconveyor line 20 can be an overhead conveyor line. In one aspect, atleast a portion of the shackle conveyor line can be substantially linearhaving a longitudinal axis A_(S). That is, the shackle conveyor line 20can be positioned such that a shackle 12 traveling on the shackleconveyor line moves substantially linearly along the longitudinal axisA_(S) for at least a predetermined distance.

The shackle 12 is illustrated in FIG. 2, according to one aspect, andcan comprise a central member 22 and an outer perimeter member 24. Adistal end 26 of the shackle can be configured for attachment to theshackle conveyor line 20. Two inner members 28 can be spaced from theouter perimeter member and can cooperate with the outer perimeter member24 to create a pair of slots 30 ending at a proximal end 32 of theshackle. In another aspect, at least a portion of the inner members cantaper towards the outer perimeter member. In still another aspect, atleast a portion of the inner members 28 can be spaced from the outerperimeter member a predetermined distance so that the slots are sized toreceive the legs of the bird. In one aspect, a central cavity 34 can bedefined by a portion of the outer perimeter member. In this aspect, thecentral cavity can be configured to allow the paw to be inserted intoand/or removed from the shackle 12.

In one aspect, the guide bar 14 can be an elongate, substantially linearbar positioned adjacent to a portion of the shackle 12 traveling on theshackle conveyor line 20. For example, the guide bar can be adjacent tothe first side of the shackle (i.e., the knuckle side of the paw).Alternatively, however, the guide bar 14 can be adjacent to the secondside of the shackle (i.e., the claw side of the paw). In one aspect, atleast a portion of the guide bar can be substantially parallel to thelongitudinal axis A_(S) as illustrated in FIG. 7. That is, at least aportion of the guide bar 14 can be positioned substantially parallel tothe shackle as the shackle moves substantially linearly along thelongitudinal axis A_(S). Optionally, the entire elongate guide bar canbe substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A_(S). In anotheraspect, at least a portion of the guide bar 14 can be positioned at anacute angle relative to the longitudinal axis A_(S). For example, theangle formed between the guide bar and the longitudinal axis A_(S) canbe about 1 degree, 2 degrees, 3 degrees, 4 degrees, 5 degrees, 6degrees, 7 degrees, 8 degrees, 9 degrees, 10 degrees, 11 degrees, 12degrees, 13 degrees, 14 degrees, 15 degrees, 20 degrees, 30 degrees, orgreater than about 30 degrees.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the guide bar 14 can comprise a lowerbar 36 and an upper bar 38 spaced from the lower bar a predetermined bardistance forming a bar gap 40, according to one aspect. In anotheraspect, the bar gap can be sized large enough that a portion of the paw11 can slide therein. Optionally, the bar gap can be sized small enoughthat the knuckle of a bird cannot slide therein. That is, in one aspect,the bar gap can be sized so that the paw of the bird can slidelongitudinally therein along the longitudinal axis A_(S), while beingrestricted from moving in a transverse direction by the knuckle on oneside of the paw 11 and the claw on the second side of the paw. In afurther aspect, the bar gap can be constant along the length of theguide bar 14. Alternatively, in another aspect, the bar gap can vary.For example, the bar gap can be greater at a first end 42 of the lowerbar than at a second end 44 of the lower bar 36.

In one aspect, the guide bar 14 can be upwardly inclined relative to theshackle conveyor line 20. In another aspect, the lower bar 36 and/or theupper bar 38 can be upwardly inclined relative to the shackle conveyorline. That is, the first end 42 of the lower bar can be spaced from theshackle conveyor line a first distance D₁, and the second end 44 of thelower bar 36 can be spaced from the shackle conveyor line 20 a seconddistance D₂ that is less than the first distance. In another aspect, atleast a portion of the upper bar 38 can be substantially parallel to thelower bar.

The guide bar 14 can further comprise a guide bar entry 46, according toone aspect. In this aspect, the guide bar entry can have a downwardpointing first portion 48 coupled to the first end 42 of the lower bar36, and an upward pointing second portion 50 coupled to the first end ofthe upper bar 38. The downward pointing first portion and the upwardpointing second portion can be shaped, sized and positioned to guide aportion of the paw 11 into the bar gap 40 as the paw is conveyed by theshackle 12. That is, the downward pointing first portion 48 and theupward pointing second portion 50 of the guide bar entry 46 can act as afunnel to urge the paw into the bar gap 40.

The holding wheel 16 can be a wheel configured to rotate and move thepaw 11 from the guide bar 14 and/or the shackle 12 into contact with theblade 18. In one aspect, the holding wheel can be positioned near oradjacent to the lower bar 36 of the guide bar so that as the paw leavesthe shackle, the paw can be positioned on the holding wheel. Uponentering the holding wheel 16, the paw can rotate around the perimeterof the holding wheel until the paw is moved into contact with the blade18, which cuts the knuckle off.

In one aspect, the holding wheel 16 defines a plurality of lateralnotches 52 around the outer edge 54 (or perimeter edge) of the wheel.Each of the notches can be sized and shaped to contain a portion of thepaw, such as the leg of the paw, therein.

As illustrated in the figures, the holding wheel 16 can be positionedsubstantially aligned with the guide bar 14 and/or the shackle 12. Inone aspect, a paw 11 moving substantially linearly along thelongitudinal axis A_(S) by a shackle of the shackle conveyor line 20 cancontinue to move substantially linearly along the longitudinal axisA_(S) around the holding wheel. In another aspect, the holding wheel 16can rotate in a holding wheel direction (substantially clockwise asindicated by the arrow in FIG. 1) and at a holding wheel rotationalspeed.

In one aspect, at least a portion of the holding wheel 16 can bepositioned parallel to the shackle conveyor line 20 and/or the guide bar14. That is, as the holding wheel rotates, at least a portion of theouter edge 54 of the holding wheel 16 can move in a plane that issubstantially parallel to the shackle conveyor line and/or the guidebar. For example, a paw 11 positioned in the bar gap 40 of the guide bar14 can move in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinalaxis A_(S) of the shackle conveyor line, and the paw can continue tomove in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axisA_(S) upon being positioned in the rotating holding wheel. In anotheraspect, a rotational axis A_(R) of the holding wheel 16 can besubstantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A_(S) of theshackle conveyor line 20 (as illustrated in FIG. 7). Thus, at least aportion of the outer edge 54 of the holding wheel can move in adirection substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A_(S) of theshackle conveyor line. In yet another aspect, at least one face of theholding wheel 16 can rotate in a plane substantially parallel to thelongitudinal axis A_(S) of the shackle conveyor line 20.

The holding wheel 16 can be formed from a single disc, according to oneaspect. However, in another aspect and with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5,the holding wheel can comprise two opposed discs 56, 58 spaced from eachother a predetermined wheel distance to form a disc gap 66. In a furtheraspect, the predetermined wheel distance can be constant at all placesalong the outer edge 54 of the discs (that is, a first disc 56 and asecond disc 58 can be substantially parallel to each other). In thisaspect, the rotational axis A_(R1) of the first disc and the rotationalaxis A_(R2) of the second disc can be substantially parallel to andaligned with each other. Alternatively, in another aspect, thepredetermined wheel distance can vary. For example, the first disc 56and the second disc 58 can be positioned such that in a first position,a first portion 60 of each disc touches or almost touches the opposeddisc (that is, the disc gap 66 can be zero or close to zero), and in asecond position, a second portion 62 of each disc can be spaced fromeach other such that the disc gap is greater than zero. In this aspect,the rotational axis A_(R1) of the first disc can be at an acute anglerelative to the rotational axis A_(R2) of the second disc. For example,the angle formed between the rotational axis A_(R1) of the first discand the rotational axis A_(R2) of the second disc can be about 1 degree,2 degrees, 3 degrees, 4 degrees, 5 degrees, 6 degrees, 7 degrees, 8degrees, 9 degrees, 10 degrees, 11 degrees, 12 degrees, 13 degrees, 14degrees, 15 degrees, 20 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, or greater thanabout 45 degrees. In another aspect, the rotational axis A_(R) of atleast one of the first disc 56 and the second disc 58 can besubstantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A_(S) of theshackle conveyor line 20.

In one aspect, the holding wheel 16 (whether comprised of a single wheelor a plurality of discs) can be coupled to the shackle conveyor line 20in order to maintain the proper timing between the holding wheel and theshackle conveyor line. For example, the holding wheel 16 can bemechanically coupled to the shackle conveyor line 20 with gears, belts,chains, cables, and the like so that as a paw leaves a shackle 12, it ispositioned in a notch 52 of the holding wheel. In another example, theholding wheel 16 can be electronically coupled to the shackle conveyorline 20. In this example, a processor or other electronic device cancontrol the timing between the holding wheel and the shackle conveyorline so that as a paw leaves a shackle 12, it is positioned in a notch52 of the holding wheel.

The blade 18 can be a fixed blade, a rotating blade or any combinationof blades. In one aspect, if the blade is a rotating blade, the blade 18can rotate in a blade rotation direction that is opposite of the holdingwheel rotation direction. For example and with reference to FIG. 1, ifthe holding wheel 16 rotates clockwise as indicated, the blade canrotate counter clockwise. In another aspect, the blade can be positionedadjacent to the holding wheel so that the blade 18 can contact a paw 11held in a notch 52 of the holding wheel. In still another aspect, if theholding wheel 16 comprises two discs 56, 58, the blade can be positionedso that a portion of the blade 18 extends into the disc gap 66 betweenthe two discs. For example, the blade can be positioned adjacent to thesecond portion 62 of each disc (wherein the disc gap is greater thanzero.) Optionally, if the holding wheel comprises a single disc, aradial groove can be formed around the perimeter of the holding wheel 16for receiving a portion of the blade 18 therein.

In a further aspect, the position of the blade 18 relative to theholding wheel 16 can be adjusted. For example, if the holding wheelcomprises two discs 56, 58, the blade can be selectively positionedcloser to the first disc or the second disc to allow the length of thecut to be changed. That is, the position of the blade can be adjusted ina direction substantially parallel to the rotational axis A_(R) of theholding wheel so that a user can selectively alter the length of the cutand therefore the paw size.

The paw cutting system 10 can further comprise a shackle element 64(illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4). In one aspect, the shackle element canhave an edge positioned at angle relative the longitudinal axis A_(S) ofthe shackle conveyor line 20. In another aspect, the shackle element 64can be positioned between the shackle conveyor line and a portion of theholding wheel 16. When contacted by a shackle moving along thelongitudinal axis A_(S), the edge of the shackle element can urge theshackle laterally away from the guide bar 14 and/or the holding wheel16. In another aspect, the shackle element 64 can have a shackle elementwidth configured to urge the shackle laterally away from the guide barand/or the holding wheel a predetermined shackle distance. Thepredetermined shackle distance can be large enough so that the centralcavity 34 of the shackle 12 is not positioned around a portion of a paw.In a further aspect, the predetermined shackle distance can vary basedon the size of the paw and/or the alignment between the guide bar 14 andthe shackle conveyor line 20. For example, if the guide bar is at anacute angle relative to the longitudinal axis A_(S) of the shackleconveyor line, the distance required to move the central cavity of theshackle from around a portion of a paw can be less than if the guide bar14 is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A_(S) of theshackle conveyor line 20. In this example then, when the guide bar is atan acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis A_(S) of the shackleconveyor line, the predetermined shackle distance is smaller than for analigned guide bar and the shackle element 64 can be smaller.

The paw cutting system 10 can be formed from conventional materials,such as for example and without limitation, polymeric materials and/orstainless steel. In one aspect, the holding wheel 16, the blade 18and/or the shackle conveyor line 20 can be driven by any pneumatic,electric, or other motor or system. As can be appreciated, gears, belts,chains, cams, and the like can also be utilized to urge movement of theholding wheel, the blade and/or the shackle conveyor line as desired. Inanother aspect, the holding wheel 16, the blade 18 and/or the shackleconveyor line 20 can be driven by a single motor or system. Optionally,a plurality of motors can be used to drive the holding wheel, the bladeand/or the shackle conveyor line.

In a conventional poultry processing systems, the bird to be processedis positioned in the shackle 12 by the feet of the bird. The legs of thebird are cut above the knuckle of the leg and the body of the bird isremoved, leaving the two paws of the bird hanging in the shackle andmoving on the shackle conveyor line 20. In order to use the paw cuttingsystem 10, the shackle conveyor line 20 can be positioned adjacent tothe guide bar 14 such that the shackle conveyor line can carry the pawtowards the guide bar. The guide bar entry 46 can align a portion of thepaw (such as the leg) so that the portion of the paw can be positionedin the bar gap 40 between the lower bar 36 and the upper bar 38 of theguide bar 14. Note that when positioned in the guide bar, the paw isrestricted from moving laterally by the claw of the paw on one side ofthe guide bar 14 and the knuckle of the paw on the other side of theguide bar.

At least a portion of the shackle conveyor line 20 moves in asubstantially linear direction along the longitudinal axis A_(S).Because the guide bar 14 is upwardly inclined relative to the shackleconveyor line, movement of the shackle 12 (and therefore the paw)towards the second end 44 of the guide bar 14 causes the guide bar tourge the paw upwards relative to the shackle from the proximal end 32 ofthe shackle towards the central cavity 34 of the shackle. Upon reachingthe second end of the guide bar, at least a portion of the paw (forexample, at least a portion of the leg) can be positioned in the centralcavity 34 of the shackle.

Near the second end 44 of the guide bar 14, the shackle 12 can contact aportion of the shackle element 64 which begins to urge the shacklelaterally away from the guide bar 14 and/or the holding wheel 16. At thesecond end 44 of the guide bar, the leg of the paw 11 can be fed fromthe guide bar into a notch 52 of the plurality of notches of the holdingwheel 16. Almost simultaneous with this, the shackle element 64 can urgethe shackle 12 laterally away from the holding wheel far enough that theleg of the paw can be removed from the central cavity 34 of the shackle.

Upon positioning in a notch 52 of the holding wheel 16, at least aportion of the paw 11 can rotate around the outer edge 54 of the holdingwheel in a plane containing the longitudinal axis A_(S) of the shackleconveyor line. As the paw rotates around the outer edge of the holdingwheel, the paw is brought into contact with the blade 18, which cuts theknuckle off of the paw to form the desired paw product 68. If theholding wheel comprises two discs, as the paw rotates around the outeredge of the holding wheel, the paw rotates from the first position, inwhich the first disc 56 and the second disc 58 touch or almost toucheach other, towards the second position in which the discs are spacedfrom each other. This causes the leg of the bird to become stretchedwith the outside of one disc contacting the knuckle and the outside ofthe other disc contacting the claw of the paw 11. In this aspect, theblade 18 can be positioned so that the knuckle is removed when the legis in the stretched position so that the blade can cleanly andconsistently cut each paw.

After being cut, the knuckle can fall into a container or other devicefor disposal (not shown) on one side of the holding wheel 16, while thedesired paw product 68 can drop onto a conveyor 70 or other system whichcan deliver the paw for further processing and/or inspection in anordered, indexed manner as illustrated in FIG. 6.

As can be appreciated, the blade 18 can be optional in order to providea system for removing poultry paws 11 from a shackle 12 and positioningthe paw on a conveyor 70 or other paw holding system. That is, in oneaspect, a paw holding system can comprise a shackle 12, a guide bar 14and a holding wheel 16. The shackle, guide bar and holding wheel (andall other elements of the system) can operate as described above toremove the paw from a shackle and position the paw on a conveyor withoutbeing cut by the blade.

Although several aspects of the invention have been disclosed in theforegoing specification, it is understood by those skilled in the artthat many modifications and other aspects of the invention will come tomind to which the invention pertains, having the benefit of the teachingpresented in the foregoing description and associated drawings. It isthus understood that the invention is not limited to the specificaspects disclosed hereinabove, and that many modifications and otheraspects are intended to be included within the scope of the appendedclaims. Moreover, although specific terms are employed herein, as wellas in the claims that follow, they are used only in a generic anddescriptive sense, and not for the purposes of limiting the describedinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A paw cutting system for removing a poultry pawfrom a shackle conveyed along a longitudinal axis on a shackle conveyorline, and then cutting the leg of the paw to remove the knuckle, the pawcutting system comprising: a guide bar positioned adjacent to andsubstantially aligned with a portion of the shackle conveyor line,wherein the guide bar is upwardly inclined relative to the shackleconveyor line such that a first end of the guide bar is spaced from theshackle conveyor line a first distance and a second end of the guide baris spaced from the shackle conveyor line a second distance that is lessthan the first distance, wherein the guide bar is substantially linear,and wherein as the shackle is conveyed toward the second end of theguide bar, the poultry paw is urged by the guide bar from a proximal endof the shackle to a central cavity of the shackle; a holding wheelpositioned adjacent to the second end of the guide bar, wherein theholding wheel defines a plurality of notches in an outer edge of theholding wheel, wherein each notch of the plurality of notches isconfigured to contain a portion of a paw therein, and wherein theholding wheel is configured to move the paw from the guide bar to ablade; a shackle element having an edge positioned at an acute anglerelative to the longitudinal axis of the shackle conveyor line, whereinthe shackle element is configured for urging the shackle away from theholding wheel relative to the longitudinal axis of the shackle conveyorline when the paw is positioned in the central cavity of the shackle;and the blade positioned adjacent to the holding wheel, wherein theblade is configured to cut the knuckle from the paw positioned in anotch of the plurality of notches of the holding wheel.
 2. The pawcutting system of claim 1, wherein at least one face of the holdingwheel is substantially parallel to a plane containing the longitudinalaxis of the shackle conveyor line.
 3. The paw cutting system of claim 1,wherein the holding wheel is configured to move the paw from the guidebar to the blade in a direction substantially parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the shackle conveyor line.
 4. The paw cuttingsystem of claim 1, wherein the holding wheel is rotatable around arotation axis that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinalaxis of the shackle conveyor line.
 5. The paw cutting system of claim 1,wherein the holding wheel comprises two opposed discs.
 6. The pawcutting system of claim 5, wherein the two opposed discs aresubstantially parallel to each other.
 7. The paw cutting system of claim5, wherein a rotational axis of at least one of the two opposed discs issubstantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shackleconveyor line.
 8. The paw cutting system of claim 5, wherein the twoopposed discs are spaced from each other a predetermined wheel distance.9. The paw cutting system of claim 8, wherein the predetermined wheeldistance varies from a first position, in which a first portion of eachof the two opposed discs contacts the opposed disc and the predeterminedwheel distance is zero, to a second position, in which a second portionof each of the two opposed discs is spaced from each other and thepredetermined wheel distance is greater than zero.
 10. The paw cuttingsystem of claim 9, wherein a rotational axis of a first disc of the twoopposed discs is an acute angle relative to a rotational axis of asecond disc of the two opposed discs.
 11. The paw cutting system ofclaim 1, wherein the blade is a rotating blade.
 12. The paw cuttingsystem of claim 1, wherein the guide bar is substantially parallel tothe longitudinal axis of the shackle conveyor line.
 13. A paw cuttingsystem for removing a poultry paw from a shackle conveyed along alongitudinal axis on a shackle conveyor line, and then cutting the legof the paw to remove the knuckle, the paw cutting system comprising: aguide bar positioned adjacent to and substantially aligned with aportion of the shackle conveyor line, wherein as the shackle is conveyedfrom a first end toward a second end of the guide bar, the poultry pawis urged by the guide bar from a proximal end of the shackle to acentral cavity of the shackle; a holding wheel comprising two opposeddiscs spaced from each other a predetermined wheel distance, wherein thetwo opposed discs are positioned adjacent to the second end of the guidebar, wherein a plurality of notches are defined in an outer edge of eachof the two opposed discs, wherein each notch of the plurality of notchesis configured to contain a portion of a paw therein, and wherein the twoopposed discs are rotatable and configured to move the paw from theguide bar to a blade; a shackle element having an edge positioned at anacute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the shackle conveyorline, wherein the shackle element is configured to urge the shackle awayfrom the holding wheel at an acute angle relative to the longitudinalaxis of the shackle conveyor line when the paw is positioned in thecentral cavity of the shackle; and the blade positioned adjacent to theholding wheel, wherein the blade is configured to cut the knuckle fromthe paw when the knuckle is in the predetermined wheel distance betweenthe two opposed discs.
 14. The paw cutting system of claim 13, whereinthe guide bar is a substantially linear elongate guide bar.
 15. The pawcutting system of claim 14, wherein the guide bar is upwardly inclinedrelative to the shackle conveyor line such that a first end of the guidebar is spaced from the shackle conveyor line a first distance and asecond end of the guide bar is spaced from the shackle conveyor line asecond distance that is less than the first distance.
 16. The pawcutting system of claim 15, wherein the guide bar comprises a lower barand an upper bar spaced from the lower bar a predetermined bar distanceforming a bar gap, and wherein the bar gap is sized so that a portion ofthe paw can slide therein.
 17. The paw cutting system of claim 16,wherein the predetermined bar distance is greater at the first end ofthe guide bar than at the second end of the guide bar.
 18. The pawcutting system of claim 13, wherein a rotational axis of at least one ofthe two opposed discs is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinalaxis of the shackle conveyor line, and wherein a rotational axis of afirst disc of the two opposed discs is an acute angle relative to arotational axis of a second disc of the two opposed discs.
 19. A methodfor removing a poultry paw from a shackle conveyed on a shackle conveyorline, and then cutting a leg of the paw to remove a knuckle, the methodcomprising: conveying the shackle along a longitudinal axis past a guidebar positioned adjacent to and substantially aligned with a portion ofthe shackle conveyor line, wherein as the shackle is conveyed from afirst end toward a second end of the guide bar, the poultry paw is urgedby the guide bar from a proximal end of the shackle to a central cavityof the shackle; discharging the poultry paw from the central cavity ofthe shackle into a lateral notch formed in two opposed discs spaced fromeach other a predetermined wheel distance to form a disc gap, whereinthe two opposed discs are positioned adjacent to the second end of theguide bar, wherein the lateral notch is defined in an outer edge of eachof the two opposed discs, and wherein two opposed discs are rotatableand configured to move the paw from the guide bar to a blade; stretchingthe poultry paw so that a claw of the paw is on an outside of a firstdisc of the two opposed discs, and the knuckle of the paw is on anoutside of a second disc of the two opposed discs; and cutting thestretched poultry paw with a blade to remove the knuckle from the paw,wherein at least a portion of the blade extends into the disc gap. 20.The method of claim 19, wherein the guide bar is a substantially linearelongate guide bar.